More than a courierNew research reveals that parts of the neuron are far more complex than once thought. (2019-02-11)

How the brain responds to textureNew research by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago shows that as neurons process information about texture from the skin, they each respond differently to various features of a surface, creating a high-dimensional representation of texture in the brain. (2019-02-08)

New data suggests nicotine while pregnant alters genesA University of Houston biomedical research team is reporting that a possible cure for addiction may be found by following the pathways of significantly altered dopamine neurons in newborns who were chronically exposed to nicotine in utero. (2019-02-05)

A match made in neural heaven: How a neuron grows an axonWhile the neural architecture responsible for the transmission of electrical impulses has been known for more than a century, the basic biology behind how a neuron acquires its one and only axon -- a fundamental component of how neurons communicate -- remains a mystery. (2019-02-04)

A new approach to peripheral nerve injury?The lab of neuroscientist Michael Costigan, Ph.D., at Boston Children's Hospital is studying how the body's immune system breaks down damaged peripheral nerves. (2019-01-31)

Tiny eye movements affect how we see contrastResearchers previously believed contrast sensitivity function--the minimum level of black and white that a person needs to detect a pattern--was mainly dictated by the optics of the eye and processing in the brain. (2019-01-28)

iMT: Creating a blueprint for cortical connectivityTaking the first step towards actualizing a blueprint of the brain, researchers from Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed a novel technique capable of tracing intricate neural connections with unprecedented sensitivity. (2019-01-28)

Lessons learned from the adult neurogenesis debateSince the 1960s, consensus about whether human adults generate new neurons with age has swayed back and forth from 'yes, at least in some places in the brain' to 'no, not at all.' In a review paper published Jan. (2019-01-24)

All too humanProfessor Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that our brains are like modern washing machines -- evolved to have the latest sophisticated programming, but more vulnerable to breakdown and prone to develop costly disorders. (2019-01-22)

#514 Arctic Energy (Rebroadcast)This week we're looking at how alternative energy works in the arctic. We speak to Louie Azzolini and Linda Todd from the Arctic Energy Alliance, a non-profit helping communities reduce their energy usage and transition to more affordable and sustainable forms of energy. And the lessons they're learning along the way can help those of us further south.